THE REPUBLIC OF

RUSSIA The Republic of Abkhazia (Apsny) is a country with a territory of 8.6 thou- sand square kilometers, which is situat- ed on the east coast of the . The climate in the coastal area is humid ABKHAZIA and subtropical. Most of the territory is occupied by mountains. The popula- tion consists of more than 240 thousand people who belong to the Abkhazian, Sukhum Armenian, Georgian, Russian and other Gulripsh Tkuarchal ethnic groups. Among religious people, Orthodox Christians predominate.

The are an ancient indig- BLACK SEA Ochamchira Gal enous people of the eastern Black Sea coast. Their language belongs to the West Caucasian group of languages. In the first century BC, Abkhazia became part of the . ABKHAZIA

Christianity on the territory of Abkhazia the establishment of the modern Republic The National Bank of Abkhazia has been was preached by the Holy Apostles Si- of Abkhazia. Its independence was recog- issuing commemorative and investment mon the Zealot and Andrew the First- nized by , , coins since 2008. The coins have their own Called. In the 4th-6th century, it became and a number of other states. The process denomination which is called “Apsar”. the official religion of Abkhazia. The first of further international recognition is on- By the end of 2017, more than 60 kinds states on the territory of Abkhazia came going. of commemorative , silver and steel to exist in the 1st and 2nd century. In Abkhazia is a presidential republic. The coins with brass plating have been mint- the 8th century, the Abkhazian Kingdom legislative branch is represented by a uni- ed. The mintage is carried out at the re- emerged after the consolidation of early cameral Parliament. Several political par- quest of the National Bank of Abkha- feudal principalities. It united within its ties exist in the state. The city of Sukhum zia at the Russian mints of Goznak. borders not only the Abkhazian but also is the capital of Abkhazia. Georgian, Adyghe and some other peo- Most coins are dedicated to the historical ples of the . Monetary circulation on the territory of monuments and the distinguished per- Abkhazia is more than 2.5 thousand years sonalities of Abkhazia. Since then, the Abkhazian statehood old. In different periods, coins of the Col- has existed in various forms to this day. chis were in use here, as well as coins from The modern Republic of Abkhazia was different Greek city-states, the Bosporan established on the territory of the former Kingdom, the Roman Empire, Byzan- Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic tium, Parthia, Sassanid , the Arab of Abkhazia as a result of the collapse Caliphate, the Abkhazian Kingdom, the of the . Many years of na- Georgian states, the , tional struggle for liberation preceded the and the Soviet Union. The Aiaaira, which in Abkhazian means “Victory”, is The main coin of this series is the coin dedicated to the First one of the most popular coins of this series. On a matte , Commander-in-Chief of the Armed background, there is a three-dimensional image of a warrior Forces of the Republic of Abkhazia . with a banner. Along the circumference, above the warrior’s Vladislav Ardzinba was an important academic, historian- image, there are inscriptions in the Abkhazian language – orientalist and Doctor of Historical Sciences. He became “Aiaaira” and the dates “1992” and “1993”. All inscriptions the leader of the nation and the founder of the modern and the image of the warrior with a banner have a mirror Abkhazian state. image. The coin was issued in 2013. 999 coins were issued in silver, 499 in silver with selective gilding, and only 99 in gold.

In the modern , one of the most tragic events was the Georgian-Abkhazian War of 1992- 1993, which lasted for more than a year. Thousands of people died, and the Republic suffered an irreparable loss. Dedicated to this war, which AIAAIRA VLADISLAV ARDZINBA Abkhazia calls the patriotic war, is the commemorative coin series called Series Patriotic War 1992-1993 Series Patriotic War 1992-1993 the “Patriotic War of the People of Date of issue 02-09-2013 Date of issue 02-09-2013 Denomination: 50 apsar Denomination: 50 apsar Abkhazia of 1992-1993”. Composition: Gold 999 Composition: Gold 999 Weight: 15.55 grams Weight: 15.55 grams Diameter: 30 mm Diameter: 30 mm Edge: Corrugated Edge: Corrugated Mint: Mint of Goznak Mint: Moscow Mint of Goznak Finish: Uncirculated Finish: Proof-like Mintage 1 000 Mintage 99 Artist Djapua B.R., Erokhin B.M. Artist Djapua B.R. Price 1200 $ Price 1 500 $ The series “Patriotic War of the People of Abkhazia of 1992-1993” is continued by coins dedicated to the hero-cities of Abkhazia: Gagra, Gudauta, Tkuarchal. The cities that have done a lot to win the war and the independence of Abkhazia.

20 YEARS OF LIBERATION HERO THE HERO OF THE TOWN OF GAGRA CITY GUDAUTA CITY TKUARCHAL

Series Patriotic War 1992-1993 Series Patriotic War 1992-1993 Series Patriotic War 1992-1993

Date of issue 01-10-2012 Date of issue 24-06-2013 Date of issue 24-06-2013 Denomination: 10 apsar Denomination: 10 apsar Denomination: 10 apsar Composition: Silver 925 Composition: Silver 925 Composition: Silver 925 Weight: 33.94 grams Weight: 33.94 grams Weight: 33.94 grams Diameter: 39 mm Diameter: 39 mm Diameter: 39 mm Edge: Corrugated Edge: Corrugated Edge: Corrugated Mint: Moscow Mint of Goznak Mint: Saint Petersburg Mint of Goznak Mint: Saint Petersburg Mint of Goznak Finish: Proof-like Finish: Proof-like Finish: Proof-like Mintage 499 Mintage 499 Mintage 499 Artist Djapua B.R. Artist Djapua B.R. Artist Djapua B.R. Price 150 $ Price 150 $ Price 150 $ In 2016, the Bank of Abkhazia issued a coin dedicated to the capital of Abkhazia, which started a new series “The cities of Abkhazia”. The issue of the coin was timed to the anniversary of the city of Sukhum – 2500 years since it was established. Sukhum is one of the oldest cities of the world. The exact date it was established cannot be determined. In the 6th century BC, Greek merchants from Miletus AKUA founded a colony of Dioscuriad (Dioscuria), naming it after the brothers Dioscuri, participants of the Argonauts’ Series Cities of Abkhazia expedition to . In year 65 BC, the Romans Date of issue 30-06-2016 founded the fortress of Sebastopolis on the site of the Denomination: 10 apsar Greek colony. During its history, the city changed its Composition: Silver 925, Gold 999 names a few times: Dioscuriada, Sebastopolis, Tskhum, Weight: 33.94 grams Sukhum-kale, Sukhum. The Abkhazian name of the Diameter: 39 mm capital is Akua. Edge: Corrugated Mint: Moscow Mint of Goznak The commemorative coin Akua is made of silver in the amount of one thousand Finish: Proof-like pieces and also of silver with selective gilding in the amount of five hundred pieces. It depicts a relief building of the city administration, the clock tower, which is a Mintage 500 symbol of the city. In the upper right part, there are images of the hats of the Artist Gablia R.T. Dioscuri – symbols of an Abkhazian reigning house. Price 250 $ Fazil Iskander was a world-famous writer, philosopher and Alexander Chachba (1867-1968) was a prince, a descendant The only investment coin of the Bank of Abkhazia is the sage. For many people, Abkhazia is associated with the of the ruling family of the Abkhazian Kingdom, locum tenens coin “Nart”. The coin is made of gold with a mintage of works of Fazil Iskander. His Homeland became a developed of the princely throne of Abkhazia (1918-1968). Alexander one thousand pieces. It is the smallest coin of the Bank of metaphor in his writings. Fazil Iskander is greatly loved both Chachba was an interesting and extraordinary person, who Abkhazia both in diameter - 22.6 mm, and in weight - 0.25 in Abkhazia, his home, Russia and all over the world. The left his mark not only in the history and culture of Abkhazia, ounces. On the reverse of the coin, there is a depiction coin, which is dedicated to his 80th birthday, was issued in but also in the cultural life of Russia and Europe of that time. of a rider on horseback, under it – an inscription in 2009 with a mintage of one thousand pieces. It was sold out He was a professional artist, art historian and art critic. At Abkhazian language «Нарҭ» (Nart). in a few months after the issue date. the start of the twentieth century, he was one of the most The Narts epos is an ancient Abkhazian heroic stories famous stage designers in the Petersburg imperial theaters - about one hundred unconquerable heroes-narts, born by the Mariinsky and the Alexandrinsky theatres. one mother.

FAZIL ISKANDER ALEXANDER CHACHBA NART

Series The outstanding peole of Abkhazia Series The outstanding people of Abkhazia Series Investment coins

Date of issue 06-05-2009 Date of issue 16-11-2009 Date of issue 16-11-2009 Denomination: 10 apsar Denomination: 10 apsar Denomination: 25 apsar Composition: Silver 925 Composition: Silver 925 Composition: Gold 999 Weight: 33.94 grams Weight: 33.94 grams Weight: 7.8 grams Diameter: 39 mm Diameter: 39 mm Diameter: 22.6 mm Edge: Corrugated Edge: Corrugated Edge: Corrugated Mint: Moscow Mint of Goznak Mint: Moscow Mint of Goznak Mint: Moscow Mint of Goznak Finish: Proof-like Finish: Proof-like Finish: uncirculated Mintage 999 Mintage 999 Mintage 999 Artist Djapua B.R. Artist Djapua B.R., Erokhin B.M. Artist Gablia R.T., Erokhin V.M Price 300 $ Price 150 $ Price 750$ Series “Historical sites of Abkhazia” THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. ANDREW, THE represents 7 ancient Christian «FIRST-CALLED» APOSTLE, IN PITSUNDA churches. The coins are presented in silver, silver with selective gilding and also in gold. Their popularity is not surprising. This is because Abkhazia THE DORMITION is a country with an ancient Christian CATHEDRAL OF DRANDA history. The first Christian churches in Abkhazia were built at the beginning Series Historical sites of Abkhazia THE DORMITION CATHEDRAL OF of the 4-5 century. In the 6th century, Date of issue 22-03-2013 Denomination: 50 apsar Christianity becomes the main religion Composition: Gold 999 of the Abkhazian people. There is a Weight: 15.55 grams legend that in the first century, the Diameter: 30 mm apostles Andrew the First-Called Edge: Corrugated Mint: Moscow Mint of Goznak and Simon the Zealot preached in Finish: Proof-like Abkhazia. Mintage 99 Artist Djapua B.R. THE CATHEDRAL OF THE Price 1 500 $ APOSTLE ST. SIMON THE ZEALOT THE CATHEDRAL OF THE HOLY MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD

Another coin from this series which deserves special attention is the coin dedicated to the . It is the biggest coin of the Bank of Abkhazia. Its diameter is 60 millimeters, its weight is 168 grams. THE NEW It is made of silver with selective gilding. The coin’s ATHOS MONASTERY elements are: an icon, domes and haloes which are made in colour by pad printing and with selective gilding. The New Athos Monastery, which is depicted on Series Historical sites of Abkhazia the coin, was founded in 1875 by Russian monks of the THE DORMITION CATHEDRAL OF MYKU Russian monastery of Saint Panteleimon. The place for Date of issue 24-06-2013 the construction of the Monastery was chosen in 1875 Denomination: 100 apsar by an instruction from the elders. During the Russian-Turkish War (1877-1878), the Monastery Composition: Silver 925, Gold 999 was robbed and plundered. Weight: 168.15 grams

In 1880, the restoration of the Monastery began, which Diameter: 60 mm took 20 years. Emperor Alexander the Third participated Edge: Corrugated in the restoration. In particular, musical chimes of the monastery’s highest tower, which is the bell tower in the Mint: Saint Petersburg Mint of Goznak center of the western building, are his gift. Finish: Proof-like

The Monastery was constructed by the side of an ancient Mintage 999 church of the Apostle Simon the Zealot. Not far from the Artist Djapua B.R. THE CATHEDRAL OF church, there is a cave, in which according to the legend, ST. GEORGE IN ELYR Simon the Zealot prayed. Price 500 $